The Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development (JEAD) aligns its ethical policies with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, ensuring adherence to the highest standards in scholarly publishing.
🔗 COPE Membership Link of the Journal
Duties and Responsibilities of Editors
Manuscript Evaluation
Editors assess submissions for relevance to the journal's scope and recommend expert reviewers based on their specialized knowledge.
Decision Authority
The Editor-in-Chief holds the final decision on manuscript acceptance or rejection, considering editorial board judgments, reviewer feedback, and legal considerations such as libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
Confidentiality and Integrity
Editors maintain the confidentiality of authors and reviewers, avoid conflicts of interest by delegating manuscripts when necessary, and actively investigate ethical concerns, including plagiarism and data falsification.
Conflict of Interest
Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their editorial decisions. If a conflict is identified, the concerned editor will recuse themselves from handling the manuscript. Editorial decisions must remain independent and free from financial, institutional, or personal biases.
Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers
🔗 COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers
Objective Assessment
Reviewers provide constructive feedback to assist editorial decisions and author improvements.
Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and refrain from using information obtained through peer review for personal advantage.
Conflict of Interest
Reviewers should decline assignments where conflicts of interest exist and notify the Editor-in-Chief promptly.
Ethical Oversight
Reviewers should report any concerns regarding potential research misconduct, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or image manipulation, to the editorial office.
Duties and Responsibilities of Authors
🔗 International Standards for Authors
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure their work is original, properly cite sources, and avoid all forms of plagiarism. The journal employs plagiarism detection tools, and manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected.
Authorship Criteria
Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors, and all co-authors must approve the final manuscript.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could influence the research outcomes.
Ethical Considerations for Human and Animal Research
Authors conducting research involving human or animal subjects must adhere to ethical guidelines, including obtaining informed consent from participants and institutional review board (IRB) approvals. A clear ethics statement must be included in the manuscript, specifying compliance with regulations such as the Declaration of Helsinki (for human research) or institutional animal care guidelines.
Data Availability and Reproducibility
Authors are encouraged to share data supporting their findings. Where applicable, datasets should be deposited in publicly accessible repositories, and a data availability statement must be included in the manuscript. Exceptions can be made for sensitive or confidential data, with appropriate justification.
Use of AI and Automated Tools in Manuscript Preparation
Authors must disclose the use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) in manuscript preparation and ensure that AI-generated text does not compromise academic integrity. The responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance of the manuscript lies entirely with the authors.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Publisher
Editorial Independence
The publisher ensures that editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and are not influenced by commercial interests.
Ethical Oversight
The publisher is committed to maintaining the integrity of academic records and monitoring ethical standards among editors, reviewers, authors, and readers.
Peer Review Process
JEAD follows a double-blind peer review process, where the identities of authors and reviewers remain anonymous. Each submission undergoes:
- An initial editorial assessment for scope, originality, and compliance with ethical policies.
- Evaluation by at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the subject area.
- A final decision by the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewer feedback and editorial board recommendations.
Handling Research Misconduct and Image Manipulation
JEAD takes unethical publishing behavior seriously. This includes:
- Plagiarism
- Simultaneous submissions
- Duplicate publications
- Data fabrication or falsification
- Citation manipulation
- Improper author attribution
- Image manipulation that alters research findings
Authors must not manipulate images in a way that leads to misrepresentation of the research. Any detected instances of image or data falsification will be investigated, and appropriate actions, including manuscript rejection or retraction, will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines.
Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern
JEAD follows COPE guidelines for handling:
- Corrections (for minor errors that do not affect the study's conclusions).
- Retractions (for serious ethical breaches or significant errors that affect the validity of findings).
- Expressions of Concern (for cases under investigation where misconduct is suspected but not yet confirmed).
All corrections and retractions will be publicly documented to maintain transparency.
Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
JEAD encourages post-publication debate. Readers may comment on articles up to one month before final publication. If concerns are raised, the editorial board may initiate a review or correction process as necessary.
Complaint and Appeal Policy
Authors who disagree with editorial decisions can appeal by contacting the Editor-in-Chief. The appeal process involves:
- Re-evaluation of the manuscript alongside editorial and peer reviewers' comments.
- Potential involvement of the editorial board in the final decision.
- A final written decision provided to the author.
All appeals must be substantiated with clear arguments against the editorial decision.
📧 How to Submit an Appeal
Authors who wish to appeal may send their request via email to: jead2@um.ac.ir. All appeals will be addressed within three working days.